Transport minister issues warning to Australia's major airlines

Australian transport minister Catherine King has slammed the on-time failures of the country's two biggest airlines: Qantas and Virgin Australia.

King said the latest BITRE On Time Performance (OTP) report, for November, confirmed what many Australians would expect "with the lowest average on time statistics by airlines in over a year".

Small fry Bonza and Rex led the way for the month with on time performances of 73.9% and 70.5% respectively, while Virgin Australia was the worst performer for the month, with only 54.3% of its flights arriving on time.

Qantas saw 66.3% of its flights arrive on schedule.

"Across all airlines, last month’s average on time arrivals figure of 64.1% was significantly lower than the long-term average performance of 81.1%," King said in a statement.

The on time departures figure of 65.9% was also significantly lower than the long-term average of 82.3%.

Cancellations were at 3.7% for the month, compared with the long-term average of 2.2%.

"Given these very disappointing results, it is no wonder that so many Australians remain fed up with our major airlines," King said.

"Like all Australians, the Government wants an aviation sector that supports our nation’s way of life and this means services need to be reliable, competitive and affordable.

"That's why we have committed to delivering an Aviation White Paper, expected to be released in mid-2024, to set the scene for the next generation of growth and development across the aviation sector.

"This will include consideration of how we can better protect the interests of consumers, whether that be a stronger ombudsman model or other measures implemented in overseas jurisdictions.

"As Australians gear up to travel for Christmas and the holidays, the Government will be keeping a close eye on the performance of all our major airlines."

Image: Louis Loizou, Scop.io 

Jetstar boosts international flights out of Melbourne

Jetstar has unveiled plans to add more international flights from Melbourne.

The budget airlines says it will be ramping up the frequency of flights to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Auckland and Christchurch, adding a total of more than 100,000 new seats.

Starting from April 1, 2024, Jetstar will increase services to New Zealand in peak periods, using its Airbus A320 fleet.

The airline will fly Melbourne to Auckland with up to 13 return flights per week and Melbourne to Christchurch: up to five return flights per week.

From June 17, 2024, the airline will fly its Boeing 787-8 aircraft more often to major south-east Asian cities including Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket.

The announcement came just days before Jetstar launches new direct flights between Melbourne and Nadi (Fiji) from Saturday.

The three days per week service will carry up to 72,000 customers a year.

Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully said Jetstar has seen particularly strong demand for international travel out of Melbourne.

“Melburnians love to travel and we’re continuing to see strong demand," she said.

Crackdown on hidden air ticket charges

There are few things as annoying as hidden charges when you try to book a flight - charges like those imposed by Jetstar in Australia when you book online.

Airlines add charges for several extra services, including priority boarding, checked bags, in-flight meals and seat selection, even for paying with a credit card.

These charges are often initially hidden and make comparison shopping on flight prices problematic.

In the UK, airlines could face a crackdown on hidden fees, as part of a new government plan to improve transparency for people shopping online.

A public consultation will look at ways to end the "drip pricing". Travel Mole reports.

Government officials say the practice is ‘widespread’ and spans beyond the airline industry to many other sectors.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake says the new proposals would make sure consumers have "the clearest and most accurate information upfront" before making a purchase.

“Fake reviews and hidden fees can make choices increasingly confusing and leaves customers unsure about what product is right for them.

“We’ll be listening to industry to ensure these new regulations work for businesses too and don’t generate unnecessary burdens.”

Airlines have argued that ‘unbundling’ extra services gives consumers more choice.

Industry body Airlines UK said: “Delivering value for consumers is at the heart of an airline business.

“UK airlines look forward to responding to the consultation.”

Time for similar action in Australia? 

Cambodia to get a new airline with a familiar name

The travel industry is gaining momentum as we reach the final days of 2022.

Over the Covid era I barely heard a word from the AirAsia group. Now they seem to have breaking news just about every day.

AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL), also known as Capital A, this week signed a joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia to establish AirAsia Cambodia, a new low-cost airline to operate from Cambodia.

The new airline is aiming to cement AirAsia’s brand in Cambodia and Indochina, providing AirAsia with greater access to its domestic market and connecting to international markets across Asean, North Asia and beyond.

AirAsia Cambodia aims to stimulate the Cambodian aviation and tourism industries, launch new destinations, create jobs and bring low-cost flights to the country.

The agreement was signed by Tony Fernandes, the AirAsia founder, and Vissoth Nam, director of Sivilai Asia, in Phnom Penh.

Subject to obtaining regulatory approvals, the new airline is expected to commence operations in late 2023.

"We continue to focus on Asean, where we know best and our brand is the strongest," Fernandes said.

"Cambodia is the fifth Asean country where we are continuing our march of being the region’s number one mover of people and cargo, and providing a lynchpin of economic growth for Asean countries.

“2022 was about restarting our airline to pre-Covid levels. That machine is in place and will be completed by the second quarter of 2023. The second half of 2023 will be when we focus on our continued efforts in growth.

"We are confident of profitability in the first year. Cambodia is a market that is familiar to us and where we have deep infrastructure in place."

AAAGL operates five routes to Cambodia from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, from Penang to Phnom Penh (starting January 3, 2023) as well as from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Since entering the Cambodian market in 2005, AirAsia has carried over 10 million guests to and from Cambodia.

Don't panic, but your flight might soon only have one pilot

UPDATE: This is even more pertinent after an American Eagle flight a few days ago when the pilot collapsed at the controls shortly after takeoff and later died. 

Every thought about what happens if your pilot has a heart attack, or is somehow unable to fly the plane?

Simple. There is always a second pilot, often called the co-pilot, or first officer, on board to take over in case of an emergency.

Or there has been until now.

The industry newsletter Travel Mole reports that a call for single pilot-operated commercial flights is gaining momentum.

The reason? Money.

Having just one pilot in the cockpit is an obvious plus for cost-conscious airlines, despite the safety fears.

More than 40 countries have petitioned the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to set aviation standards to allow single-pilot flights.

They include Germany, the UK and New Zealand.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been collaborating with plane manufacturers to work out how solo pilots could operate flights safely.

EASA says solo pilot services could begin by 2027.

It could be a very controversial move.

“The people going down this route are not the people who fly jets every day,” Tony Lucas, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association said.

“When things go awry, they go awry fairly quickly."

Janet Northcote, EASA’s head of communications, said: “We are potentially removing the last piece of human redundancy from the flight deck."

EASA says sometime after 2030, flying could be automated; allowing planes to be remotely landed if a pilot became unresponsive.

Your life in the hands of virgin technology? Somehow I am not reassured.

Singapore Airlines signals changes are afoot

Singapore Airlines might soon be part owner of two Indian airlines: Air India and Vistara. Or maybe not.

SIA confirmed this week that "confidential discussions" are ongoing with the Tata group to merge Vistara and Air India, Travel Mole reported.

Singapore Airlines currently has a 49% joint venture stake in Vistara with Tata, while Tata owns Air India outright. Tata also has 84% ownership in AirAsia India.

The Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest company with products and services in over 150 countries

“The discussions seek to deepen the existing partnership between SIA and Tata, and may include a potential integration of Vistara and Air India,” SIA said in a filing to the Singapore Stock Exchange.

“There is no certainty or assurance whatsoever that any definitive agreement will be entered into.

“Even if a transaction were to materialise, it would be subject to the relevant regulatory approvals.”

Tata Group has long sought to integrate AirAsia India and Vistara into Air India.

Vistara began operations in 2015. It gave the SIA Group a foothold in India’s fast-growing aviation industry and it is believed it may wish to transfer it into Tata’s integrated airline business.

Airline passenger shot in mid air

You'd think you would be safe from random gunmen when you are flying.

Not so, unfortunately.

A passenger was shot in mid-air after a bullet fired from the ground pierced through the aircraft’s fuselage, Travel Mole reported.

The Myanmar National Airlines’ passenger was rushed to a hospital after the plane touched down at Loikaw Airport in Myanmar.

MNA has now cancelled all flights at the airport.

Myanmar’s military government accused rebel groups of firing on the aircraft.

“I want to say that this kind of attack on a passenger plane is a war crime,” said Major General Zaw Min Tun.

There were 63 passengers on the ATR-72 plane from Yangon.

The male passenger was reportedly hit in the face but is expected to survive.